As a consumer, the most important thing to know about trans fat is that it raises low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad”) cholesterol. An elevated LDL blood cholesterol level increases your risk of developing heart disease. Heart disease is the leading killer of both men and women in the U.S.

Limiting trans fats is one component of a healthful diet that also includes limiting saturated fat and dietary cholesterol.

Tomato plants are beginning to yield, and with the new crop comes a new activity: home canning. But whether canning whole tomatoes, homemade ketchup, pasta sauce or anything in between, adding acid to canned tomato products is a must, according to University of Wisconsin-Extension food safety specialist Barbara Ingham.

Many adults trying to maintain or lose weight may find themselves craving sweet foods. When you’re trying to save calories, sweet foods are often the first to go. Fortunately, you don’t have to eliminate all sweets. Adults can benefit from foods that provide them with vitamins and minerals, but also satisfy their “sweet tooth.”

A big part of summer for many people is attending fairs, festivals, carnivals, and rodeos. There are always fun things to see and experience, including art work, music, games, and rides. One of the biggest draws to these events is the many different types of foods and drinks available. Follow these tips to have a safe cooking, eating, and drinking experience at those events.

Some people have low levels of lactase, an enzyme in the intestine that is needed to digest the form of sugar that is found in milk.

People who can't completely digest lactose have lactose intolerance. Children under six years old rarely have lactose intolerance. People who do not completely digest milk sugar in the intestine may have abdominal cramps, gas or diarrhea shortly after drinking milk or eating other dairy foods.

If your body was a computer, would it be receiving lots of “error” messages? Is it beginning to run slower and take longer to “start?” Perhaps you’re trying to run too many programs at the same time.

If you’re operating less efficiently because there are too many activities making demands on your system, shut down some programs. Some examples include:

National Farmers Market Week is August 4th-10th! Support your local farmers and take advantage of the healthy foods they offer by visiting a nearby farmers market.

One of the pleasures of summer for many people is shopping at the local farmers’ market. In fact, buying at farmers’ markets is becoming a habit for growing numbers of Americans. More than one million people purchase goods from their local market each week, supporting 20,000 American farmers in the process, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

While farmers’ markets offer food at the peak of freshness, even fresh produce can be a source for foodborne illness. That’s why it’s important to carefully select and handle fresh produce that you purchase, says University of Wisconsin-Extension food safety specialist Barbara Ingham.

If you are one of the people packing up for a summer vacation or just leaving for a weekend getaway, you might want to consider ways to stretch your budget to extend your fun at your destination. Although stopping for beverages and food along the way is enjoyable, your dining options can take a bite out of your budget.

Fruits and vegetables provide important nutrients and fiber that help maintain good health.

Fruits and vegetables provide important nutrients and fiber that help maintain good health. They are full of phytochemicals the natural plant compounds that produce the bright color and provide a variety of health benefits. Known phytochemicals have a broad range of protective benefits.

Most people know that fruits and vegetables are good for them. Yet, most Americans do not eat the recommended amounts. One barrier is the belief that fruits and vegetables are not affordable.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest compared the costs of fruits and vegetables with other commonly consumed snacks and side dishes. They analyzed twenty snack and nineteen side dish options.

Overall they found that  the average price per serving of healthy fruits and vegetables was less than unhealthy options for both snacks and side dishes. The average price per serving of the fruit or vegetable snacks was $0.34, while that of the unhealthy snacks was $0.67. The average price per serving of vegetable side dishes was $0.27, compared to $0.31for the less healthful side dishes.

In addition to fruits and vegetables being less expensive on average, the fruit and vegetable options had fewer calories. Differences in calories per serving between the fruits and vegetables versus the less healthful options often were large, with fruits and vegetables having 15 to 260 fewer calories than the unhealthy snacks and 35 to 150 fewer calories than the unhealthy side dishes.

This report reinforces the emerging view that fruits and vegetables can be nutritional bargains. Fruits and vegetables are comparable in price to, or less expensive than, unhealthy snacks and side dishes and contain fewer calories.